Reshingling leaking patio roof

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Aug 18th, 2022 9:22 am

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Jul 25th, 2021 12:55 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6910 posts; 6687 upvotes

Jul 25th, 2021 12:55 pm

Reshingling leaking patio roof

I have a covered patio with skylights and noticed the roof around one of the skylight leaks when it rains. The wood on the underside is rotting but the shingles around that area look decent. I'm hoping the fix is a minor DIY fix. I want ensure the integrity of the structure remains sound. Hoping some of you folks can walk me through it ...I'm not super handy but I try to fix what I can on my own and learn along the way. I believe the patio is about 15 -20 years old.

UPDATE: Iast summer I cleaned the area and applied asphalt caulk. Not sure if I didn't apply it properly or there's another issue (probably the former), but the leaking has continued. I got 2 quotes from general handyman and one said (without going on roof) that the skylight needs new flashing. The second initially said new flashing isn't required, but area around the shingles needs to be reshingled. Then he went up there and said no it doesn't need to be reshingled, just re-caulked. I'm going to try and recaulk it myself again, but was wondering if anyone can offer tips/advice on how to do it properly. Do I need to remove the shingles around the skylight and caulk the around the flashing? Only the bottom is leaking? Also, Is there any reason why the flashing would need to be replaced by not the skylight (that seems odd to me). FYI, this the patio roof not the house roof.

Edit 2 - I applied several layers of asphalt caulking around the skylights and the problem is actually worse now with the leaking. Does this mean the flashing needs to be replaced?

Images

Last edited by hierophant on Aug 8th, 2022 4:33 pm, edited 2 times in total.

16 replies

Jul 25th, 2021 2:05 pm

Benzat17: Sr. Member; Dec 26, 2017; 854 posts; 682 upvotes

Jul 25th, 2021 2:05 pm

i would start with cleaning the area and leaves around the skylight to give a the water a proper path to flow

get a garden hose and see where it leaks and how

Jul 25th, 2021 3:22 pm

User452441: Sr. Member; Oct 22, 2016; 969 posts; 889 upvotes; Comox Valley

Jul 25th, 2021 3:22 pm

With these patio roofs, usually the slope of them, is low and shingles are sometimes not ideal for them. Shingles are not waterproof, but water shedding. Ideally they would be on a slope of 4/12 plus.
https://www.iko.com/na/pro/building-pro ... ngle-roof/
You can use them from 2/12 to 4/12 putting ice and water shield on deck first.

So coming back to your roof, what is the slope of it. This will tell you if the shingles might work well here, or you be fighting a losing battle.

It appears slope is low, and you are having small leaks at the skylight, causing this rot. Couple things you can do, which I do not suggest a contractor (should be doing it right) doing, but a homeowner can. Caulking along the edges of the side, where the shingle meets the skylight. This is where rainwater can slowly seep in. I am not positive in looking at it, but shingles need step flashing on each shingle. If they use one long piece of metal along the side (on roof deck) of it, that is incorrect.

You want to get further into it, is use a waterproof membrane, and work around the back (and put under wall flashing here), and sides of skylight. Adhere it, and seal where it meets the skylight. This would give you more time.

Or else redo it, and go with the better material for this slope.

Jul 25th, 2021 7:00 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6910 posts; 6687 upvotes

Jul 25th, 2021 7:00 pm

There's decent a slope and the rain does roll off - I can see it. I know it's leaking and I know exactly where (right where the rotted wood is - I circled it in blue). Please remember that the patio is probably 15-20 years old and likely hasn't been reshingled. I will check the caulking around the skylight - I imagine clear caulking for the exterior is sufficient?

Images

Jul 27th, 2021 4:15 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6910 posts; 6687 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 4:15 pm

Any suggestions to resolve this?

Jul 27th, 2021 5:37 pm

Andy34: Deal Addict; Dec 19, 2015; 3363 posts; 1873 upvotes; Calgary, AB

Jul 27th, 2021 5:37 pm

It really looks like they’ve just put the shingles over the edge of the skylight?

Either do it right with proper flashing, lifting some of the shingles, similar to the image here - https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/ ... leakproof/

Something like this -https://www.homedepot.ca/product/velux- ... 1000668633

Or just cover the joint between the shingles and skylight with a **** ton of asphalt caulk and call it good until you reshingle the lot and reflash it properly.

+1

Jul 27th, 2021 5:52 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6910 posts; 6687 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 5:52 pm

Andy34 wrote: ↑ It really looks like they’ve just put the shingles over the edge of the skylight?

Either do it right with proper flashing, lifting some of the shingles, similar to the image here - https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/ ... leakproof/

Something like this -https://www.homedepot.ca/product/velux- ... 1000668633

Or just cover the joint between the shingles and skylight with a **** ton of asphalt caulk and call it good until you reshingle the lot and reflash it properly.

Thanks. I have a velux skylight that's in my bathroom on my roof proper. Not sure if it's worth the cost to do it for the patio roof but I will do the asphalt caulking (didn't know there was such a thing) for now. Do I left the shingles by the skylight and apply the caulking there? Won't I damage the shingles there?

Jul 27th, 2021 7:46 pm

tempperm: Sr. Member; Mar 10, 2004; 848 posts; 329 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 7:46 pm

Personally i would do the step flashing. I guess my concern is that i would miss the area i need to caulk.

Jul 27th, 2021 7:49 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6910 posts; 6687 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 7:49 pm

tempperm wrote: ↑ Personally i would do the step flashing. I guess my concern is that i would miss the area i need to caulk.

What's involved with that?

Jul 27th, 2021 11:01 pm

User452441: Sr. Member; Oct 22, 2016; 969 posts; 889 upvotes; Comox Valley

Jul 27th, 2021 11:01 pm

hierophant wrote: ↑ What's involved with that?

What you would do, for a start is try to keep shingles in place. Each shingle gets a piece of L shape step flashing. Slide the flashing under the bottom tab of shingle, without any metal showing on the horizontal area. You might have to pull up some nails here, if the shingles have been nailed close to the skylight. This step flashing is nailed on, but I do not suggest it in your case, as I have concerns, of doing more damage, if you nail close to skylight. So what you do, is use your roof caulking, and put a dap under the bottom of the steps to hold it, all the way up, and caulk over any nail holes you come across.

For the vertical side of the steps, go under the skylight (or counter flashing if it has it), you might have to cut it to make it fit, and go up as high as possible.

You do the above for each shingle. When you come to the back of the skylight, you will have the backpan here. For the last step flashing have the horizontal taller than the vertical side, and try to slide it under the back pan.

If you are uncomfortable with it, try caulking the hell out of it with roof caulking.

Images

+2

Jul 28th, 2021 11:57 am

hierophant [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6910 posts; 6687 upvotes

Jul 28th, 2021 11:57 am

User452441 wrote: ↑ What you would do, for a start is try to keep shingles in place. Each shingle gets a piece of L shape step flashing. Slide the flashing under the bottom tab of shingle, without any metal showing on the horizontal area. You might have to pull up some nails here, if the shingles have been nailed close to the skylight. This step flashing is nailed on, but I do not suggest it in your case, as I have concerns, of doing more damage, if you nail close to skylight. So what you do, is use your roof caulking, and put a dap under the bottom of the steps to hold it, all the way up, and caulk over any nail holes you come across.

For the vertical side of the steps, go under the skylight (or counter flashing if it has it), you might have to cut it to make it fit, and go up as high as possible.

You do the above for each shingle. When you come to the back of the skylight, you will have the backpan here. For the last step flashing have the horizontal taller than the vertical side, and try to slide it under the back pan.

If you are uncomfortable with it, try caulking the hell out of it with roof caulking.

Much appreciated!

Aug 8th, 2021 11:20 am

hierophant [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6910 posts; 6687 upvotes

Aug 8th, 2021 11:20 am

I've clean around the sunlight (pictures are before cleanup). I'm about to apply Black Knight Clear Patch but before I do I want to confirm where I should be applying it especially since Jingles are nailed or glued down. Should I apply where shingles and flashing meet?

Images

Aug 8th, 2021 4:39 pm

gr8dlr: Deal Expert; Sep 1, 2005; 19435 posts; 14403 upvotes; Markham

Aug 8th, 2021 4:39 pm

Sometimes YouTube really is amazing for info.

We're all bozos on the bus until we find a way to express ourselves...

Failure is always an option...just not the preferred one!

+1

Aug 8th, 2022 4:33 pm

hierophant [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2010; 6910 posts; 6687 upvotes

Aug 8th, 2022 4:33 pm

I applied several layers of asphalt caulking around the skylights and the problem is actually worse now with the leaking. Does this mean the flashing needs to be replaced?

Aug 8th, 2022 6:00 pm

akswun: Deal Addict; Nov 7, 2012; 1514 posts; 829 upvotes; TORONTO

Aug 8th, 2022 6:00 pm

hierophant wrote: ↑ I applied several layers of asphalt caulking around the skylights and the problem is actually worse now with the leaking. Does this mean the flashing needs to be replaced?

watch the video gr8dir posted. It could be anything. You need to take out some shingles (see video) and reassess whats underneath.
Now that youve tried to caulk the shit out of it and its now worse.... time to either hire a pro or diy it.

Aug 17th, 2022 11:40 pm

tempperm: Sr. Member; Mar 10, 2004; 848 posts; 329 upvotes

Aug 17th, 2022 11:40 pm

hierophant wrote: ↑ I applied several layers of asphalt caulking around the skylights and the problem is actually worse now with the leaking. Does this mean the flashing needs to be replaced?

The flashing does not have enough coverage to prevent water damage. So yes it needs to be replaced. Also IMO, the shingles were cut back way too much. My shingles are maybe 1/8 inch from my skylight. Haven’t had any issues in the past 5 years.

Aug 18th, 2022 9:22 am

RCLapCar: Sr. Member; Dec 21, 2020; 687 posts; 611 upvotes

Aug 18th, 2022 9:22 am

hierophant wrote: ↑ I applied several layers of asphalt caulking around the skylights and the problem is actually worse now with the leaking. Does this mean the flashing needs to be replaced?

Depending on where you put the caulking you may have actually created bigger channels for the water to travel through or pool into that now redirects more of it to where the actual leak is.

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